Military Museum Pictures

[TVV]

The museum holds what are considered the two earliest Ottoman artefacts: the saber of Kose Mihal, an early Eastern Roman traitor to the Ottoman cause and a companion to Osman Ghazi, as well as the helmet of Orhan Ghazi, Osman's son. I am yet to find an explanation as to what links the sword in question to Kose Mihal.

[TVV]

The collection is immense, even if some of the items have questionable attributions, like the Sudano-Egyptian sword we discussed in a separate thread.

[TVV]

Speaking of questionable attributions, there is a group of karabela hilted swords attributed to the Balkans, but I am very certain they are Arab.

[TVV]

The Mameluke swords from Unsal Ucel's book were my favorite things in the museum.

[TVV]

There are a lot of amazing things, but a matchlock with revolving barrels is as unique as it gets.

[TVV]

There are a lot of great museums with arms and armor around the world, but I doubt there is another with so many really beautiful Islamic arms.

[TVV]

After the halls with edged weapons from all corners of the Ottoman Empire, the halls with armor start.

[TVV]

Among the armor, there are a number of European helmets, most probably taken as trophies.

[TVV]

Of course, there is a lot more Ottoman armor, including chamfrons - even one for a camel.

[TVV]

There are also some nice shields on display, including a beautiful big Abyssinian one.

[TVV]

It was interesting to see quite a few African items in the museum, including some really nice shields, even if the emphasis is understandably on Ottoman items.

[TVV]

The armor halls are followed by a couple of halls, dedicated to firearms.

[TVV]

Here too some of the guns are European, including an unusual 8-barrel English one.

[TVV]

Among the firearms, there are a couple of cases with accessories such as powder flasks, holsters, etc.

[TVV]

If you like Islamic and especially Ottoman long guns, well, they certainly have some nice ones at the Askeri.

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More guns, ranging from a wheellocks Winchesters.

[TVV]

The last few halls on the first floor have some smaller artillery pieces, along with bows and arrows.

[TVV]

The first floor ends with some javelins and spears. The second floor is dedicated to the post-Ottoman period and the formation of the Turkish state and army, and as such there are fewer ethnographic items here.

[TVV]

Still, there are some and so it is worth it going up the stairs to look for them.

[TVV]

This is the end of the journey through the museum, finishing with some of the bombards in the courtyard. Hope you enjoyed it!

[Pertinax]

Thank you very much for the tour.

Best regards, Yuri

[DhaDha]

Fantastic. Thank you.